Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was at another meeting, so I apologise if I repeat a question. We have just concluded our pre-legislative scrutiny report on the local government (directly elected mayor with executive functions in Limerick city and county) Bill 2021. To be fair, the pre-legislative scrutiny report included a wide range of suggestions. However, it was very clear that the changes that were needed, even to the scheme proposed to us, would not be suitable for the Dublin region, which has four different local authorities. What is needed urgently in Dublin is a citizens' assembly to progress the issue. The Tánaiste has made a commitment to me that it is first in the queue. We need to find a way for that to progress, even with Covid restrictions. While many of us have said that the outcome of that process needs to be a directly elected mayor for Dublin, there is also a need to look for stronger executive decision-making in Dublin that is accountable. That comes down to the councillors. We have some fantastic and talented councillors across the city. There are more than 160 of them. To remove them from the process and replace them with a directly elected mayor would not be a good reflection of local democracy. I ask the Minister of State to expand a little on where we are doing in Dublin and how we can ensure that the people and, importantly, the councillors who have so much experience, have a say.